This activity will combine the use of an Aqua View underwater camera and snorkeling and/or seining to study life under the water. Many organisms live at least part-time in Crooked Creek including fishes, turtles, macroinvertebrates, aquatic snakes and mammals.

Grade Level

K - 12

Recommended Setting

Indoor classroom and Crooked Creek

Location

Fred Berry Conservation Education Center, Yellville, AR

Contact

Education Program Coordinator, 870-449-3484

Duration

1 - 2.5 hours

Suggested Number of Participants

Up to 24

Special Conditions

Water conditions and weather permitting.

Objectives

Understand that Crooked Creek provides a diverse habitat for its inhabitants.

Photos/posters/trading cards or slide show of common Crooked Creek inhabitants

Seine and collection buckets

Snorkels and masks

Background

As a free-flowing, warm-water stream, Crooked Creek’s habitat is suitable for the tiniest microbes to hefty bass as well as a many birds and aquatic mammals. From its headwaters west of Harrison to its mouth on the White River near Rea Valley, Crooked Creek winds an 80-plus mile course through the Ozarks.

Procedure

Ask participants to name organisms they might see under water in Crooked Creek. Point out that many organisms call the creek home. Vertebrates include reptiles, amphibians, fish and mammals, and invertebrates include insects, snails, clams, leeches and worms. Use classroom exhibit animals as well as photos/slide show or posters to introduce common inhabitants of Crooked Creek. How might Crooked Creek inhabitants compare with those of nearby streams? Be sure to explain that Crooked Creek is a free-flowing, warm-water stream.

Set up the Aqua View camera probe under water and arrange participants where they can easily view the monitor. Discuss characteristics of inhabitants as you encounter them with the camera.

Continue the activity with seining and snorkeling.

Seining:

Teach how to seine and allow the class to capture fish samples by seining.

Identify the fish they collect.

Snorkeling:

Teach how to snorkel and refer to the outdoor skills section of the FBCEC curriculum, if needed. Snorkel to view underwater critters. Ask participants to describe the creatures they saw.

Wrap up by discussing the organisms viewed and clarify that many animals make their home in the creek at least part of their life cycle. Emphasize that diverse inhabitants are directly correlated to a diverse habitat.

Review

Describe the underwater habitat(s) explored. Be specific. What was the bottom like? Was the water deep or shallow? Clear or murky? Fast- or slow-flowing? Were plants growing in the water?

What types of aquatic animals were identified?

Describe the proper technique for seining minnows.

Resources

Pflieger, William L. (1996). The Crayfishes of Missouri, The Missouri Department of Conservation.